Artwork Specifications

Screen Printing Artwork Specifications

To achieve the best results with screen printing we need to use Vector Graphics. Vector Graphics don't use pixels to create the image they use mathematical equations, which in short means you can increase the size of the image as much as you like without losing any quality. Vector images can be created in programs such as Adobe Illustrator and are often referred to as eps files. In a lot of cases we can create the vector file for you from your artwork, the higher resolution your original artwork is, the better the results we can achieve. Complex and low resolution artwork may incur a charge to create the vector file for printing.

If you can only create your artwork in bitmap format, jpeg, psd, png, gif etc., then it needs to be high resolution. Ideally we need it to be created at a minimum of 300dpi and at the actual size it will be printed. With pixel based artwork if you increase the size of the image you will lose quality and the image will become blurred, so it's always best to create your artwork at full size to begin with. If your design includes gradients and blended colours it may incur a separation charge. Separations are a way of re-creating full colour images with screen printing.

For colour matching we use Pantone Solid Coated. You can either supply us with Pantone Solid Coated references or we will try and match your colour as closely as possible. We will provide a digital proof including your colours, but as all screens are different we recommend using a Pantone book to check your colours.

Embroidery Artwork Specifications

Embroidery is a very different process to screen printing. Your artwork will be turned into a DST file, this is a format which plots the stitch pattern for the embroidery machines. Because of this we can accept most image file types for embroidery, but we still recommend supplying the highest quality image you can.

It's not possible to match all colours exactly, but we have a large range of thread colours available and we will match as closely as possible.

Direct to Garment (DTG) Artwork Specifications

Direct to Garment printing uses the same kind of technology as inkjet printing onto paper. This means we can use either vector or pixel based artwork. For the best results your artwork needs to be created at 300dpi and at the actual size it will be printed. Preferably artwork needs to be provided in CMYK not RGB, as RGB colours can not be replicated accurately.

Woven Label Artwork Specifications

Woven labels are similar to embroidery in the fact that your design will be plotted in a special program for the loom to then weave your design. We can accept most image file types for woven label manufacture but we still recommend supplying the highest quality image you can.

All text needs to be at least 10pt (approx 5mm high).

VECTOR VS RASTER, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

THESE TWO LOGOS LOOK THE SAME RIGHT?

VECTOR

Vector art is created using illustration or drawing software such as Adobe Illustrator. These programs use mathematical equations and geometric principles such as points, line and shape with specific coordinates of their starting & ending points. This creates simple art which is clean, crisp and can be scaled indefinitely without losing any quality or fidelity. Vectored artwork can also be recoloured, separated into it’s various smaller parts and played with in countless ways at the click of a mouse. This is why we love to work with vectored artwork and prefer artwork to be sent in this format. Such files will end among some other file extensions in .ai, .pdf, .eps, and .svg.

RASTER

Raster art (sometimes referred to as bitmap art), is artwork made up of pixels. All photographs are raster images and other artwork such as graphic images created in raster-editing programs like Adobe Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro, can be raster images. A pixel is a square of colour and an image is made when lots of these pixels are put together. These files will have names ending in .jpeg, .gif, .jpg or .bmp. If you enlarge these images (or even zoom in on them, when viewing them onscreen), these images become increasingly pixelated, with their edges appearing jagged / blurred / squarey, and innumerable shades of every colour in the image can be picked up on.

I WANT TO GET MY ARTWORK SCREEN PRINTED, WHAT ARTWORK DO I NEED TO PROVIDE?

We ask that all artwork is in a vector format. This is because the outlines of your design will appear smooth and crisp when printed. It also saves time setting up the artwork for both the visual proof and when they get transferred onto screens at production! This saves us time which in turn, saves you time.

HOW CAN I GET MY ARTWORK TO BE VECTORED?

Please note that in order for artwork to be vectored, it needs to have been created in a vector-based program. Placing a raster image in a vector program and saving it as an .ai or .pdf for example will note make it vectored unfortunately. However, saving vectored artwork as a .jpeg or .psd file for example will rasterise it.

If your artwork is rasterised, but looks like it may have been created in a vector-based program (i.e. if it is not photographic), then it may be well worth your while contacting whoever sent you the image to see if they also have the original vectored artwork on file.

If no original vectored artwork exists for your image, then sometimes it can be redrawn, but this can be costly and time-consuming, depending on the complexity of the image.

Raster artwork can be used for certain embellishment methods, subject to artwork complexity, order quantity etc. However we cannot improve the quality of a raster image so we recommend only using artwork that is saved at size at a high resolution (300dpi – dots per inch or higher). High-resolution artwork can also sometimes be used to screen print from, but it can require costly separations or add time to the processing of your artwork in other ways, which can potentially delay your order.